Outdoor unit for air conditioner

ABSTRACT

An outdoor unit for an air conditioner is disclosed, the outdoor unit characterized by: a case ( 100 ) formed with an air suction port ( 110 ) sucking air from outside and an air discharge port ( 120 ) discharging the sucked air; a first blowing fan ( 200 ) formed inside the case ( 100 ) for dis charging the air sucked from the air suction port ( 110 ) to the air discharge port ( 120 ); and a second blowing fan ( 300 ) formed inside the case ( 100 ) and positioned on the same axis of the first blowing fan ( 200 ) for rotating in an opposite direction of the first blowing fan ( 200 ), such that generation of cavitation of a blowing fan is limited to greatly reduce noise and vibration.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an outdoor unit for air conditionerconfigured to limit generation of cavitation of a blowing fan, and togreatly reduce noise and vibration.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, an air conditioner is an apparatus configured to conditionair using a refrigerating cycle. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the airconditioner is provided with a refrigerating cycle constituted with acompressor (11) compressing a refrigerant to a high temperature highpressure gaseous refrigerant, an outdoor unit (10) including an outdoorheat exchanger (12) for condensing the compressor-passed refrigerant toa high temperature high pressure liquid refrigerant, an expander (21)reducing the outdoor heat exchanger-passed refrigerant to a low pressurelow temperature liquid refrigerant, and an indoor unit (20) including anindoor heat exchanger (22) evaporating the expander-passed refrigerantto a low temperature low pressure gaseous refrigerant and absorbing anindoor heat to maintain a room at a low temperature.

The air conditioner is divided into a window type air conditioner and aseparated (or split) type air conditioner according to an installationmethod of an outdoor unit (10) and an indoor unit (20). Although thewindow type air conditioner and the split type air conditioner arefunctionally same, but may be different according to installationmethod.

That is, the window type air conditioner is installed at the window,etc. under the state that an outdoor unit (10) and an indoor unit (20)are integrally assembled to each other in one case, and the separatetype air conditioner is respectively installed at the outdoor and theindoor under the state that the outdoor unit and the indoor unit areseparated from each other.

As shown in FIG. 2, the typical outdoor unit (10) includes a case (13)formed with an air suction port (13 a) sucking air from outside and anair discharge port (13 b) discharging the sucked air, a blowing fan (14)formed inside the case (13) for discharging the air sucked from the airsuction port (13 a) to the air discharge port (13 b), and a drivingmotor (15) rotating the blowing fan (14). That is, in a case the blowingfan (14) is rotated by the driving motor (15), the air sucked from theair suction port (13 a) is heat-exchanged via the outdoor heat exchanger(12) and discharged to the air discharge port (13 b) via the blowing fan(14).

However, the typical outdoor unit (10) has limitations in that it isformed with a single blowing fan (14) and a diameter of the blowing fan(14) must be enlarged to increase a air volume, or a rotating speed ofthe driving motor (15) must be increased. As a result, the conventionaloutdoor unit (10) suffers from disadvantages in that a cavitation isgenerated at the blowing fan (14), a load is increased to easilydestruct the blowing fan (14) and noise and vibration are seriouslygenerated.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The present invention is disclosed to obviate the abovementionedproblems, and it is an object to provide an outdoor unit for an airconditioner configured to limit the generation of cavitation at ablowing fan, and to reduce the diameter of the blowing fan.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an outdoor unitfor an air conditioner configured to reduce a load of a blowing fan,thereby improving a life cycle, and to greatly reduce noise andvibration.

The above-disclosed subject matters are to be considered illustrative,and not restrictive. Other particular subject matters may be appreciatedand practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to thoseskilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein.

Solution to Problem

In one general aspect of the present invention, there is provided anoutdoor unit for an air conditioner, characterized by: a case (100)formed with an air suction port (110) sucking air from outside and anair discharge port (120) discharging the sucked air; a first blowing fan(200) formed inside the case (100) for discharging the air sucked fromthe air suction port (110) to the air discharge port (120); and a secondblowing fan (300) formed inside the case (100) and positioned on thesame axis of the first blowing fan (200) for rotating in an oppositedirection of the first blowing fan (200).

In some exemplary embodiments, the outdoor unit may further include afirst driving motor rotating the first blowing fan and a second drivingmotor rotating the second blowing fan.

In some exemplary embodiments, the first and second driving motors maybe fixed inside the case by a motor mount.

In some exemplary embodiments, the motor mount fan may be formed in onesingle unit for simultaneously fixing the first and second drivingmotors.

In some exemplary embodiments, the first blowing fan may be formedperpendicularly to the suction port, and the second blowing fan may beformed in opposite to the discharge port.

In some exemplary embodiments, the outdoor unit may further include adriving motor driving the first blowing fan and the second blowing fan,and a power transfer unit for transmitting a driving power of thedriving motor to the first and second blowing fans may be formed betweenthe first and second blowing fans.

In some exemplary embodiments, the power transfer unit may include adriving bevel gear fixed at a rotation shaft of the driving motor, afirst driven bevel gear fixed at the first blowing fan for being meshedwith the driving bevel gear, and a second driven bevel gear fixed at thesecond blowing fan and formed in opposition to the first driven bevelgear for being meshed with the driving bevel gear.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The outdoor unit for an air conditioner according to the presentinvention is advantageous in that a first blowing fan and a secondblowing fan are arranged on the same axle but rotated in oppositedirection to limit the generation of cavitation from the blowing fans,and to reduce the diameter of the blowing fans. Another advantage isthat the load of the blowing fans can be reduced to improve the lifecycle of the air conditioner and to greatly reduce noise and vibration.Still another advantage is that the first blowing fan and the secondblowing fan can be driven by one single driving motor to thereby reducethe manufacturing cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a refrigerating cycle of atypical air conditioner.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating an outdoor unit for a typicalair conditioner.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating an outdoor unit for an airconditioner according to a first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating an outdoor unit for an airconditioner according to a second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating an outdoor unit for an airconditioner according to a third exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a power transfer unitaccording to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In describing the present disclosure, detailed descriptions ofconstructions or processes known in the art may be omitted to avoidobscuring appreciation of the invention by a person of ordinary skill inthe art with unnecessary detail regarding such known constructions andfunctions. Accordingly, the meaning of specific terms or words used inthe specification and claims should not be limited to the literal orcommonly employed sense, but should be construed or may be different inaccordance with the intention of a user or an operator and customaryusages. Therefore, the definition of the specific terms or words shouldbe based on the contents across the specification. In the drawings, thesizes and relevant shapes of constituent elements may be exaggerated forclarity and convenience sake.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating an outdoor unit for an airconditioner according to a first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

An outdoor unit for air conditioner according to a first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention include a case (100), a blowingapparatus (180) and an outdoor heat exchanger (130). The case (100) isformed with a suction port (110) for sucking an outside air, and adischarge port (120) for discharging the outdoor heat exchanger-passedand heat-exchanged air to the outside.

For example, the suction port (110) is formed at a lateral surface ofthe case (100), and the discharge port (120) is formed at an uppersurface of the case (100). One or more suction ports (110) and dischargeports (120) may be formed and may be disposed at any surface of the case(front, rear, left, right, upper or lower surface of the case) accordingto shape and installed position of the outdoor heat exchanger (130).

The case (100) is disposed therein with a machine room (101) and a heatexchange room (102) partitioned by a barrier (140), where the machineroom (101) is formed with various parts such as compressor (150) and acircuit board, and the heat exchange room (102) is formed with theoutdoor heat exchanger (130) and a blowing fan assembly (180).

The blowing fan assembly (180) includes a first blowing fan (200), asecond blowing fan (300) arranged on the same axis as that of the firstblowing fan (200), and driving motors (400, 500) driving the first andsecond blowing fans (200, 300). The first blowing fan (200) and thesecond blowing fan (300) are formed on the same axis but each fan isrotating in opposite direction.

The first blowing fan (200) is arranged perpendicularly to the suctionport (110) and sucks the outside air to the inside through the suctionport (110). The second blowing fan (300) is oppositely arranged from thedischarge port (120) to discharge the air sucked into the case (100) tothe outside.

The first and second blowing fans (200, 300) are axial fans, and arerotatively fixed inside the case (100), and are positioned in oppositionto the discharge port (120) of the case (100). Therefore, the air issucked from the suction port (110) by the rotation of the first andsecond blowing fans (200, 300) to be discharged to the discharge port(120) through the first and second blowing fans (200, 300).

The first and second blowing fans (200, 300) are disposed on the sameaxis but rotated in the opposite direction, where component force in thetangential direction of the air discharged through the first blowing fan(2000 is offset by the second blowing fan (300), and simultaneously theresultant force in the axial direction of the discharged air isreinforced to increase the discharged air volume.

The increased in the discharged air volume may increase the heatexchange efficiency of the outdoor heat exchanger (130). At this time,the discharged air volume can be increased by the first and secondblowing fans (200, 300), and the component force in the tangentialdirection is offset to prevent the generation of cavitation, to prolongthe life by reducing the load and to reduce the noise and the vibrationto the maximum.

The driving motor includes a first driving motor (400) rotating thefirst blowing fan (200), and a second driving motor (500) rotating thesecond blowing fan (300). At this time, motor mounts (410, 420) may beneeded to fix the first and second driving motors (400, 500) inside thecase (100).

In case the motor mounts (410, 420) are separately manufactured, adistance between the first and second driving motors (400, 500) islengthened, such that the motor mount may be manufactured in an integralsingle type in order to compactly arrange the first and second drivingmotors (400, 500).

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a single motor mount (450) may be fixedlyformed at both sides thereof with the first and second driving motors(400, 500). As a result, the vibration and noise can be offset becausethe first driving motor (400) and the second driving motor (500) arerotating in the opposite direction and use of space can be alsomaximized.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating an outdoor unit for an airconditioner according to a third exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

An outdoor unit according to the third exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention includes a first blowing fan (200), a second blowingfan (300) arrange on the same axis as that of the first blowing fan(200), a single driving motor (600) for driving the first and secondblowing fans (200, 300), and a power transfer unit (650) transmittingthe rotation force of the driving motor (600) to the first and secondblowing fans (200, 300).

The configuration and operation of the first and second blowing fans(200, 300) are the same as those of the abovementioned exemplaryembodiment, such that further explanation thereto is omitted.

One single driving motor (600) drives both the first and second blowingfans (200, 300) and is fixed at the case (100) by a motor mount (660).

As shown in FIG. 6, the power transfer unit (650) serves to transmit therotation force of the driving motor (600) to the first and secondblowing fans (200, 300) and to rotate the first and second blowing fans(200, 300) in opposite direction.

An example of the power transfer unit (650) may be a bevel gear. Thatis, the bevel gear may include a driving bevel gear (700) fixed at arotation axis (610) of the driving motor (600), a first driven bevelgear (910) fixed at a rotation axis (800) of the first blowing fan(200), and a second driven bevel gear (920) fixed at a rotation axis ofthe second blowing fan (300) by being meshed with the driving bevel gear(700).

At this time, the first and second driven bevel gears (910, 920) areoppositely arranged and meshed at a right angle to the driving bevelgear (700), such that, in a case the rotation axis (610) of the drivingmotor (600) is rotated in the P direction, the first driven bevel gear(910) is rotated in the Q direction, and the second driven bevel gear(920) is rotated in the R direction.

Therefore, the first and second driven bevel gears (910, 920) arerotated in opposite direction, whereby the first and second blowing fans(200, 300) are in turn rotated in the opposite direction.

The outdoor unit according to the third exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention can reduce the manufacturing cost but increase theefficiency by using one single driving motor (600) and driving twoblowing fans (200, 300).

While the present disclosure has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, the general inventiveconcept is not limited to the above-described embodiments. It will beunderstood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changesand variations in form and details may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by thefollowing claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The outdoor unit for an air conditioner according to the presentinvention has an industrial applicability in that a first blowing fanand a second blowing fan are arranged on the same axis but rotated inopposite direction to limit the generation of cavitation from theblowing fans, and to reduce the diameter of the blowing fans. Anotherapplicability is that the load of the blowing fans can be reduced toimprove the life cycle of the air conditioner and to greatly reducenoise and vibration. Still another applicability is that the firstblowing fan and the second blowing fan can be driven by one singledriving motor to thereby reduce the manufacturing cost.

1. An outdoor unit for an air conditioner, comprising: a case formedwith an air suction port sucking air from outside and an air dischargeport discharging the sucked air; a first blowing fan formed inside thecase for discharging the air sucked from the air suction port to the airdischarge port; and a second blowing fan formed inside the case andpositioned on the same axis of the first blowing fan for rotating in anopposite direction of the first blowing fan.
 2. The outdoor unit ofclaim 1, further comprising; a first driving motor rotating the firstblowing fan and a second driving motor rotating the second blowing fan.3. The outdoor unit of claim 2, wherein the first and second drivingmotors are fixed inside the case by a motor mount.
 4. The outdoor unitof claim 3, wherein the motor mount fan is formed in one single unit forsimultaneously fixing the first and second driving motors.
 5. Theoutdoor unit of claim 1, wherein the first blowing fan is formedperpendicularly to the suction port, and the second blowing fan isformed in opposite to the discharge port.
 6. The outdoor unit of claim1, further comprising; a driving motor driving the first blowing fan andthe second blowing fan, and a power transfer unit for transmitting adriving power of the driving motor to the first and second blowing fansmay be formed between the first and second blowing fans.
 7. The outdoorunit of claim 6, wherein the power transfer unit includes a drivingbevel gear fixed at a rotation shaft of the driving motor, a firstdriven bevel gear fixed at the first blowing fan for being meshed withthe driving bevel gear, and a second driven bevel gear fixed at thesecond blowing fan and formed in opposition to the first driven bevelgear for being meshed with the driving bevel gear.